Au Pair Duties & Responsibilities

🧸 Au Pair Duties in South Africa

What is expected and what isn’t (For Families & Au Pairs)

Hiring or becoming an au pair can be life-changing, but only when everyone is on the same page.

Whether you’re a parent looking for the right help or a caregiver preparing for your next role, this guide will walk you through Au Pair Duties in South Africa.

✨ Why This Role Matters

A great au pair doesn’t just help with day-to-day care, they shape children’s growth, build lifelong memories, and provide calm structure in busy homes.

For families, hiring an au pair means your children get consistent, safe, and personalised care. For au pairs, this is a chance to build real skills in communication, organisation, and emotional intelligence, while making a difference in a child’s life. 🧡

✅ What Is an Au Pair Responsible For?

An au pair’s role is child-focused. They are not domestic workers. Their responsibilities revolve around the development, structure, and care of the children, not the household.

Here’s what au pairs can be expected to do:

Duty	What It Means
🚗 School Runs	Drop-off and pick-up from school or activities, ensuring safe and punctual transport.
🖼 Creative & Active Play	Engaging children through games, crafts, and activities that build imagination and fine motor skills.
🍼 Infant Care	Supporting developmental milestones like helping babies sit, crawl, or walk, under family guidance.
💪 Daily Routines	Helping with breakfast, bath time, brushing teeth, and bedtime if agreed upon.
📚 Homework & Academics	Assisting with reading, schoolwork, spelling, or test prep, especially if the au pair is trained as a tutor.
🤗 Child-Focused Errands	Picking up uniforms, snacks, or school supplies, only when related to childcare.
🍽 Meal Prep (For Kids Only)	Making school lunches, simple breakfasts, or light meals for the children.
🧸 Tidy Children’s Spaces	Cleaning play areas, helping children learn to tidy up after themselves.
📅 Appointments	Driving kids to therapy, doctor visits, or even attending playdates when required.
🏊‍♀️ Physical Activities	Taking children swimming, to the park, or for walks, promoting active play.
😴 Occasional Babysitting	Evening or weekend babysitting if this has been agreed on beforehand.

**❌ What Is an Au Pair Not Responsible For?**

Au pairs are not domestic workers or cleaners and are not there to manage or run your home. An Au Pair’s time, focus, and energy should go toward the child(ren), their academic progress, and emotional development.

Task	Why It’s Off-Limits
Cleaning the Whole House	They’re not hired for general household chores or upkeep.
Family Laundry	Washing or ironing clothes for parents or siblings is outside the scope.
Cooking for the Whole Family	Unless agreed upon in advance (and paid for), this is not an au pair’s duty.
Gardening or Pet Care	These are not childcare tasks and fall outside their role.
Washing the Family Car	Car maintenance and cleaning are not part of childcare.

💬 Boundaries = Happy Families & Confident Au Pairs

When duties are clearly outlined, both parties benefit:

Au pairs know they’re being respected and not taken advantage of.
Families get the full value of someone focused solely on enriching their child’s life.

It’s a win-win when expectations are communicated clearly, and stuck to. 😊

🧩 How Duties, Pay, and Experience Are Connected

An au pair’s duties, level of experience, and salary are all closely linked ✅

In fact, the more responsibilities you take on, and the more experience or training you have, the more you should be earning or paying.

All au pairs, no matter their level, are expected to help with basic homework, things like:

Reading
Spelling
Or school projects for younger children

But if you’re helping with advanced subjects (like high school maths or science), tutoring multiple kids, or managing exam prep, that usually requires more experience or specific training, and your pay should reflect that.

Here’s how it usually works in South Africa:

Experience Level	Common Duties	Typical Hourly Rate
New or Inexperienced	Playtime, school runs, daily routines, basic homework	R80–R90 per hour
Some Experience or Training	Light meals, toddler care, routine support, Grade 1–6 homework	R90–R100 per hour
Certified & Experienced	Exams (Grade 6–12), infant care, managing projects or study schedules	R120+ per hour

📌 For Families:
If your au pair is supporting older children with schoolwork, caring for a baby, or managing daily routines alone, their rate should reflect that level of responsibility.

📌 For Au Pairs:
If your duties include advanced academics, driving, or helping with babies or toddlers, and especially if you’ve completed training, it’s fair to discuss a higher rate.

💡 Want to view au pair salaries?
📖 Read our Full Guide to Au Pair Salaries in South Africa

**🚩 Red Flags to Watch Out For (From Both Sides)**

Here’s how to spot misleading behaviour, and what it may really mean:

⚠️ If a Family Says This… 👉 What It Could Really Mean

They Say…	Reality Check
“Do you mind folding our laundry while the baby naps?”	You’re being asked to do unpaid housework.
“Just clean the lounge before school pickup?”	That’s not childcare, it’s cleaning.
“Can you prep dinner for the whole family too?”	Cooking for adults isn’t part of au pair duties unless agreed and compensated.

⚠️ If an Au Pair Says This… 👉 What It Could Really Mean

They Say…	Watch Out For…
“I forgot to track petrol again, can we just round it up?”	Lack of transparency; petrol must be logged accurately.
“I didn’t have time to finish the homework because the kids didn’t listen.”	May signal lack of structure or supervision during care.
“I don’t do school runs, it’s not safe.”	Always clarify transport expectations and licensing during interviews.

📚 Want to Stand Out in the Industry?

We always recommend training whether you’re new to au pairing or want to boost your experience. At The Au Pair Club, we’ve been helping people become great au pairs since 2016.

These courses help you stand out, feel more confident, and ask for better pay because you’ll know more than the average au pair.

Course	What You’ll Learn & Gain
Au Pair Training	Learn how to ace interviews, set up fair contracts, communicate with parents, and support child behaviour with confidence. Boosts your chances of getting hired and earning more.
Baby & Toddler Course	Master daily routines, safety tips, and developmental milestones. Perfect for families with little ones or au pairs new to infant care.
Tutor Course	Understand how to structure learning sessions, support homework and exam prep, and confidently work with school-aged children. Makes you a strong candidate for hybrid roles.
Emergency Response	Gain essential first aid and emergency response skills. Families value au pairs who can stay calm and act quickly in critical moments. Ideal for boosting your cv and peace of mind.

🔗 Explore our Online Au Pair Academy
🔗 Au Pair Abroad with This Training | Countries: 🇿🇦🇬🇧🇺🇸🇳🇱🇩🇪🇧🇪🇨🇳

🎓 Bonus for Families: How to Hire Right

If you’re a family and not sure what to expect from an au pair, don’t worry, you’re not alone 🧡

Since 2016 we have had families approach us for all sorts of information. So, we decided to put together a full family guide with all the information and links you need 😊

📘 Have a look at our Family Information Guide

🚀 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re an au pair or a family, one thing is clear: childcare works best when roles are respected. When au pairs are given structure and clarity, they thrive. And when families stick to what’s fair, they get the very best in return.

So be clear.
Be kind.
And most importantly, keep the child’s growth at the heart of everything ❤️

More helpful links for Au Pairs & Families:

Au Pair Duties